Method and apparatus for coating cylinders



Feb. 28, 1939. w. c, HUEBNER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING CYLINDERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 7, 1937 ATTORNEY Feb. 28, 1939. w. c. HUEBNER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING CYLINDERS Filed Sept. 7, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTUR x a/t/tw TTUHNEY 7 M 4. W 6 M m w Y W/ 5 Feb. 28, 1939. wyc. HUEBNER 2,143,558

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING CYLINDERS Filed Sept. 7, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 NVENTEIR VV////a/n 6T Huehyer ATTORNEY Feb. 28, 1939.

w. C. HUEBNER,

METHOD AND APPARATUS FdR COATING CYLINDERS Filed Sept. 7, 1937 5 SheetsSheet 5 INVENTDR' ATTEIRNEY Patented Feb. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES IWETHQD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING CYLINDERS 14 Claims.

This invention relates, generally, to improve ments in method and apparatus for coating cylinders and, more particularly, the art of coating cylinders with light sensitive coatings or emulsions for use in rotogravure printing.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved method of applying to the cylindrical surfaces of cylinders, such as rotogravure cylinders, perfectly smooth, even coatings of uniform thickness throughout.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method of applying coatings of light sensitive solutions to the surface of cylinders, such as rotogravure cylinders, wherein a smooth, even, uniform distribution of the material is obtained by simultaneously combining, during the setting or congealing of the material, the flowing action of the material on the surface produced by rotating the cylinder about its own axis with the gravitational flowing action toward the ends of the cylinder produced by alternately positioning one end of the cylinder lower and then higher than the other end of the cylinder, as for instance, by bodily rocking or rotating the cylinder, as an entirety, about a horizontal axis transverse to the cylinder axis or by rocking or rotating the cylinder, as an entirety, about any axis inclined sufficiently with respect to the vertical as to produce the necessary= endwise flow of the material on the cylinder.

A further. object of the invention is to provide an improved method of applying coatings of light-sensitive material to the surfaces of cylinders as indicated in the two preceding paragraphs, such. that variations in the two motions of rotation and rocking of the cylinder may be made as required to produce the most efficient results with coating materials having different characteristics.

Another object of the invention is to provide an economically and efliciently designed apparatus for carrying out the improved methods indicated in the preceding paragraphs.

Further specific objects of the invention are to provide an apparatus of the type indicated which may be readily adjusted to accommodate cylinders of difierent lengths and diameters, wherein the cylinders. may be rotated at different speeds about the cylinder axes and bodily rocked or .tilted variable amounts.

Other objects of the invention will more clear.-

ly appear from the description and claims here- I inafter following.

In the drawings forming. a part of this speci- (Cl. iii-d3) fication, Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a cylinder coating apparatus suitable for carrying out the improved process and incorporating the apparatus features of the invention. Figure 2 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the section line Q- i of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view, corresponding substantially to the section line 5-5 of Figure 3 and Figures 6 and 7 are vertical sectional views corresponding to the section lines 66 and 1-7, respectively, of Figure 5.

Referring first to the apparatus embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the drawings, the same comprises, broadly,-a main base or support A; and a carriage or cradle B.

The base A may be of any suitable construction of sufficient rigidity to support the heavy cylinders and operating parts. As shown, the base is built up of two longitudinally extending channels ill-40 connected at intervals therealong by upper and lower cross plates H-H and l2-l2. Said base A is further provided, on each side thereof, with a triangular upright framework comprising diagonal members l3-l3 and a c'entral member it, each of said side frames being-provided, at the apex thereof, with a ball bearing, as indicated at E5, for a transverse spindle or shaft it, by which is suspended the carriage B.

The carriage or cradle B, as shown, preferably comprises a horizontally extending bottom casting ll which is suspended or supported from the heavy shaft or spindle It by diagonally disposed plates lB-lfi arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the bottom casting ll. As best shown in Figures 3 and 4, the bottom casting I? is formed, on its. upper side, with longitudinally extending guideways l9l9 on opposite sides thereof. Horizontally adjustable back and forth in said guideways I9-,l9, are heavy built-up supports 20-20, each of which has flanged feet 2! received within the guides [9, as shown. The supports 20 are locked in adjusted position by any suitable means such as the pins 22 carried by the feet 2! and adapted to engage in any selected opening 23 of the bottom casting [1.

To facilitate adjustment of the supports 29 toward and from each other for the accommodation of cylinders of different lengths and to. maintain proper alinement thereof, the following means are-provided. Rigidly secured to the carriage B adjacent the spindle or shaft i6 thereof, are transversely extending plates 24-24 in which are secured four bars 25-25 arranged in upper and lower pairs, as shown. Said bars 25 are extended to both sides. of the center of the apparatus, and each is provided on its under side with a rack 26. As further evident from Figure 4, said bars 25 extend through the supports 26, the latter obviously being slidable back and forth with respect to said bars 25. Associated with each support 26 are two transversely extending shafts 21 and 28, theformer carrying two pinions 29-29 cooperable with the adjacent racks 26 of the upper pair of bars 25, and the lower shaft 28 carrying similar pinions 36-36 cooperable with the racks of the lower pair of bars 25. The shafts 21 and 28 also carry sprocket gears 3| with which cooperates a sprocket chain 32 so that, when one of the shafts, as for instance, the shaft 21 as shown in Figure 4, is rotated by a crank, handle applied to the suitably squared end 121 thereof, both shafts 21 and 28 will be rotated simultaneousiy and in the same direction to thereby adjust the support 26, as will be apparent. When the supports 26 have been adjusted to their desired position and locked by the pins 22, they are further secured against tilting or vibration by clamping screws 33-33 which engage the bars 25, as shown. To further facilitate the adjustment of the supports 26, each of the same may be provided with anti-friction rollers 34 at the bottom thereof riding upon suitable flanges of the base casting l1, as shown in Figures 1 and 4.

Each end support 26 has vertically adjustable thereon, a heavy crosshead 35 mounted in suitable guides. Each crosshead 35 has a nut section 36 with which cooperates an adjusting screw 31 swiveled in a bracket 38 secured to the support 26. At their lower ends, the adjusting screws 31 are provided with preferably herring bone gears 39 which cooperate with corresponding gears 46-46 splined to a longitudinallyextending shaft 4| journaled in said cross plates 24 and extending loosely through suitable openings in the end supports 26. As will be evident, upon rotation of the shaft 4| as by :a crank 42 applied at either end thereof, the two crossheads 35 are simultaneously and equally adjusted either up or down regardless of the adjusted positions of the end supports 26.

Each of the cross heads 35 has secured thereto, at the top, a heavy bracket 43. The latter is formed with a pair of upright forked bearings 44-44 for two supporting rollers 45-45 on which is adapted to be rotatably supported the usual trunnions 46-46 of a cylinder 41 such as used in rotogravure and as illustrated in the drawings, and the cylindrical surface of which is adapted to be coated in accordance with the present invention.

As understood by those skilled in the art, such cylinders are quite heavy, sometimes weighing several thousand pounds, and the same must be handled with extreme care in order to prevent injury to the surfaces thereof. To facilitate insertion of such heavy cylinders into coating apparatus of the present invention and to remove the same therefrom, each of the heavy end supports 26 is provided with a laterally extended heavy arm 48, the upper surface 49 of which-is flush with the upper surface of the corresponding support 26. When inserting a roller in the improved apparatus, the trunnion supporting rollers 45 will be adjusted downwardly so as to lie below the level of the top surface of the support 26 and corresponding ledge 49. The cylinder is then deposited on the ledges 49 and rolled to a position in line with the pairs of trunnion supporting rollers 45, whereupon the latter are elevated so as to lift the cylinder trunnions up above the level of the supporting ledge and ready for rotation, as hereinafter described. During the insertion and removal of the cylinders from the coating machine, the cradle or carriage B will be rigidly held against oscillation about its spindle 16, by the supporting locks 56 which are pivoted to the side frame of the base A and adapted to be brought under the carriage base casting i1 and temporarily held there by the hand controlled locking pins 5i which engage in suitable openings in the inclined plates I3. Ordinarily, the locks 56 will be dropped down so as to permit tilting or rocking of the carriage B, as hereinafter described,

Each of the brackets 43 is provided also with a heavy rigid arm 52 extending endwise therefrom parallel to the axis of the cylinder 41. Slidably mounted on each of the arms 52 is an upstanding, heavy, preferably built-up post 53 adapted to be securely locked in any adjusted position on the arm 52, as by means of the bolt 54, entered through any one of a series of holes 55.

Each post 53 is provided with an endwise adjustable end thrust bearing indicated conventionally at 56 adapted to engage the end of the corresponding trunnion 46 of the cylinder and adjustable toward and from the same by a horizontal adjusting screw 51 by any suitable means such as the crank 58. Each end thrust bearing is retained in its adjusted operative posi-- is rotated during the application of the coating material thereto and the setting thereof, this being accomplished preferably by temporarily securing a grooved pulley 61 to one of the cylinder trunnions 46 and with which cooperates a driving V-belt 68 driven from .a pulley 69 carried by the rotor of a variable speed electricmotor 16. The latter is endwise adjustably mounted on a pair of arms 1 l-1l rigidly secured to the corresponding end support 26. As

will be apparent from inspection of Figure 1, the motor 16 is adapted to be locked in any adjusted position by tightening up the guide plates 12-12 associated with the motor.

To counterbalance the weight of the motor 16 in any adjusted position of the latter, the other end support 26 is provided with a similar pair of rigid arms 1l-1l and which has endwise adjustable thereon a heavy counterweight 13 adapted to be secured in any adjusted position in a manner similar to that of the motor 16.

' Detachably supported on the upper ends of the end-supports 26, as by the end flanges 14 is a trough 15. As will be understood, the latter is one of an interchangeable series of different length, dependent upon the length'of any cylin- 2,148,658 der being coated at a particular time. The

trough 15 is provided, adjacent each end thereof, with a drain spout 16 to which is detachably connected a collector drip pan as by the bayonet jointindicated at 18. The pans Tl obviously prevent spilling or splashing of any drained ofl surplus coating material during the rocking of the carriage, as hereinafter described.

From the preceding description of the apparatus, it will be evident that the carriage or cradle B is so constructed that it is adapted to accommodate cylinders 4'! of both different length and different diameters. It is further evident that when a cylinder is in the apparatus, the same may be rotated about its own axis from the motor 10 at any desired speed to which the said motor may be set and the cylinder is prevented both from endwise shift and from becoming displaced from the trunnion supporting rollers 45, by the end thrust bearings 56 and safety locking rollers 60. It will also be seen that the construction and arrangement of the parts of the carriage or cradle B are such that the entire weight may bedelicately balanced horizontally slidably mounted in the guide 86.

about the spindle or shaft l6 so that, in actual practice, said carriage or cradle Bmay be easily oscillated, tilted or rocked about the axis of the spindle It by hand to the opposite inclined positions, as shown by the dotted lines B and B" in Figure 1.

It is, however, sometimes desirable to provide a mechanical drive for rocking or tilting the carriageor cradle B definite variable amounts and for that purpose, the following means may be employed. Journaled in the base A, 'at one side thereof, is a shaft 80 to one end of which is secured a grooved driving pulley 8| and at its other end a crank arm disk 82. As will be evident, the pulley 8| may be driven from any suit able outside source of power, not illustrated.

'Radially adjustably connected to the disk 82, as

by a crosshead and adjusting screw 83, is one end of a pitman 84. The opposite end is pivotally connected to a bar 85 horizontally ,slidably mounted in a suitable guide 86 carried by the base A. Said bar 85 is provided with a rack 81 cooperable with a relatively small diameter pinion 88 carried by a short shaft 89. Said shaft 89 carries a somewhat larger pinion 90 which cooperates with a second rack 8| on a bar 92 also Said bar 92 has pivotally connected thereto one end of a link 83 which has its other end pivotally connected to the lower end of an arm 9! dependent from and rigid with the carriage B.

With the mechanism just described, it is obvious that the angle of rock or tilt'of the carriage or cradle B may be adjusted by adjusting the connection between the pitman 84 and the disk 82 and further, by varying the speed of the drive pulley 8|,the period of rock be correspondingly varied as With particular reference to the method asor oscillation may desired.

pects of the present invention, the cylinder to be coated is first mounted in the apparatus as hereinbefore describcd'...- fI -he cylinder is then rotated by starting theimo'tor "and the carriage B then preferably tilted from the horizontal and so I maintained during the application of the coating material, in liquid form, to the cylindrical sur-, face of the cylinder. The coating material may be applied to. or deposited on the cylinder in any desired manner, but preferably by pouring the same byhand as from the spout indicated conventionally at 85. The operator will preferably begin the pouring at the upper end of the cylinder and gradually work toward the lower end, it being evident that the coating material would thus be applied in a more or less helical manner, due to the rotation of the cylinder during the pouring step. Surplus coating material will drip off the lower end of the cylinder into the trough 15. The duration of the draining step will vary in accordance with the viscosity of the coating material being applied,. but will ordinarily be for about five to ten seconds. The carriage with the cylinder therein is then tilted so as to lower the opposite end of the cylinder and allow surplus material to drip and drain off from the then lower end. This evens out the coating over the entire surface.

When the draining ofi of the surplus material has been completed, the carriage with the cylinder still therein and being rotated about its own axis, is tilted or rocked back and forth either by hand or mechanically by the means heretofore described. The combined rotation of the cylinder about its own axis and bodily tilting about the horizontal transverse axis, is continued during the setting or congealing of the coating material, thus producing an even, smooth and uniformly thick coating on the cylinder surface when ultimately dried onset. The flowing action of the coating material induced by the rotation of the cylinder about its own axis, combined with the alternate gravitational flowing action toward opposite ends of the cylinder alternately, while the coating material is still sufllciently fluid to be acted upon by gravity, smooths out all valleys and ridges and prevents the formation or accumulation of any bells or beads of the material at any point on the surface of the cylinder.

As will be appreciated by those. skilled in the art, the coating materials applied will vary greatly in viscosity, speed of setting and other characteristics, and these variable factors, combined with the variable factors of diameters of cylinders will require different speeds of rotation and different periods of oscillation or rocking to obtain the best results for any particular set of conditions. For an average size cylinder and an average light sensitive coating material, actual practice has shown that a satisfactory degree of tilt from the horizontal is approximately 25 and that the period of combined rotation and tilting for the smooth setting of the material will vary from above five to ten minutes. A satisfactory .in horizontal position or while being slowly tilted about a transverse axis. Obviously, also, the cylinder may be tilted or rocked about a transverse axis to angles less than or very much greater than hereinbefore indicated and illustrated in the drawings. Particularly wfll the extreme angle of inclination or tilt be greater if the coating material is 'of unusual thickness or viscosity. In

some instances, the cylinder may be tilted to the extreme amount where the axis thereof is extended vertically and the cylinder alternately positioned with first one end down and then the other. Essential features of the process are the simultaneous combined rotation of the cylinder and the bodily movement of the cylinder about either a horizontal or any other. non-vertical axis transverse to the cylinder axis in such manner and to such extent for each particular cylinder and coating material that first one end of the cylinder and then the other end thereof is, with sufficient frequency, lowered below the center of mass of the cylinder suiflciently forgravity to induce a gravitational flow or distribution of the material alternately toward opposite ends of the cylinder while being simultaneously rotated and while the coating material retains suflicient fluidity to respond to such combined motions.

Although there has hereinbeen shown and described what is now considered the preferred manner of carrying out the invention, the same is merely illustrative and not by way of limitation. All changes and modifications are contemplated that come within the scope of the claims, appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

l. The herein described improvement in the method of coating a cylindrical surface of a cylinder with coating material, which includes: depositing a quantity of the material, while in a liquid fiowable condition, on the cylindrical surface of the cylinder; and distributing the material.

over the cylindrical surface in a smooth and uniform layer by rotating the cylinder about its own' axis and, while so rotating the cylinder, also changing the position of the cylinder as an entirety by repeatedly positioning one end alternately below and then above the opposite end and thus induce gravitational flow of the material on the surface of the cylinder alternately first toward one end and then toward the other end of the cylinder until the material sets.

2. The herein described improvement in the method of coating a cylindrical surface of a cylinder with coating material, which includes: depositing a quantity of the material, while in a liquid fiowable condition, on the cylindrical 'surface of the cylinder; and distributing the material over the cylindrical surface in a smooth and uniform layer by simultaneously combining the flowing and spreading action produced on the coating material produced by rotating the cylinder about its own longitudinal axis with repeated gravitational flowing action lengthwise of the cylinder first toward one end and then toward the other end of the cylinder until the material sets.

3. The herein described improvement in the method of coating a cylindrical surface of a cylinder with coating material, which includes: depositing a quantity of the material, while in a liquid. fiowable condition, on the cylindrical surface of the cylinder; and distributing the material over the cylindrical surface in a smooth and uniform layer by simultaneously rotating the cylinder about its own axis and bodily rocking the cylinder about a non-vertical axis extending transversely of the cylinders own axis, thereby simultaneously combining the centrifugal flowing of the material around the cylinder with a gravitational flowing of the material alternately in opposite directions lengthwise of the cylinder.

"4. The herein described improvement in :the method-of coating the cylindrical surface of an: cylinder with alight-sensitive coating material;

which includes: applying a quantityof the material, while in liquid condition, over the cylindrical surface of the cylinder and then simultaneously rotating the cylinder about its own axis to circumferentially distribute the material and until the material is set.

bodily rocking the cylinder about a horizontal axis transverse to the cylinder axis to distribute the material alternately endwise of the cylinder 5. The improved method of coating a cylinder with a coating material which includes: rotating the cylinder about its axis and, while so rotating, depositing a quantity of the material over the cylindrical surface; while continuing the rotation of the cylinden'positioning the cylinder with one end lower than that, of the other for a short interval of time to induce a flow of the material toward the lowered end and draining 01f surplus material; while still continuing the rotation of the cylinder, positioning the cylinder with the opposite end down for a short interval of time to thereby reverse the flow of the material toward said opposite end and draining off surplus material at said then lower end; and thereafter simultaneously rotating the cylinder about its axis and continuously moving the cylinder bodily to position one end thereof alternately above and below the other. end of the cylinder, until the material is set.

'6. The herein described method of coating the cylindrical surface of a' cylinder with light-sensitiye. material'which includes: rotating the cylinderabout its own axis while in an inclined positionand applying coating material to the surface while so inclined. and rotating; while so rotating, draining ofi surplus material from one end and thereafter bodily reversing thefposition of the cylinder so as to bringthe opposite end down and draining surplus material from said last named end; and thereafter simultaneously combining the rotative movement "of the cylinder about its own axis witha continuing rocking of the cylinder about a horizontal transverse axis to thereby combine the centrifugal flowing and gravitational flowing alternately toward'opposite ends of the 7. In a cylinder coating apparatus, the combination with a base; of a carriage having means for mounting the cylinder thereon to rotate about its own axis; means for rotating 3, cylinder about its own axis when so mounted on said carriage; and. means movably connecting said carriage to said base to allow one end of the cylinder mounted on said carriage being alternately positioned lower and then higher than the other. end of the cylinder.

8. In a cylinder coating apparatus, the combination with a base; of a carriage having means for mounting a cylinder thereon to rotate about its own axis; means for rotating a cylinder about its own axis when so mounted on said carriage; and meanspivotally connecting said carriage to said base, axis of the pivot means being transverse to the cylinder axis and located intermediate the end planes of the cylinder and disposed at such an angle to the vertical that, when the axis of the cylinder is appreciably displaced in either direction frorn the horizontal by displacementof the carriage about its pivot, gravity will be efiective in producing movement of liquid coating material on the cylinder toward the then lower end of the cylinder.

9. In a cylinder coating apparatus, the cominder about its own axis while on said carriage;

and means movably supporting said carriage to pivot about a non-vertical axis located interme diate the ends ofthe carriage and extending transversely to the cylinder axis.

1 0. In a cylinder coating apparatus, the combination with a carriage; of means on said carriage for rotatably supporting and rotating a cylinder about its own axis while on said carriage; means movably supporting said carriage to pivot about a non-vertical axis located intermediate the ends of the carriage and extending transversely to the cylinder axis; and means for moving said carriage about said pivot to alternately raise and lower one end of the cylinder above and below the horizontal.

11. In a cylinder coating apparatus, the combination with a base; of a carriage pivotally supported from said base, the axis of the pivot extending non-vertically and located intermediate the ends of the carriage; cylinder trunnion supports on said carriage, located on opposite sides of said pivotal axis, said supports being relatively adjustable toward and from each other to accommodate cylinders of different length; and means for rotatinga cylinder when mounted on said supports and in any angular position of the carriage about its said pivot.

12. In a cylinder coating apparatus, the combination with a base; of a carriage; means pivotally connecting the carriage to said base, the axis of said means extending horizontally; means on said carriage for rotata'biy supporting a cylinder;

and means for rotating a cylinder when mounted on said carriage.

13. In a cylinder coating apparatus, the combination of a base; of a carriage; means pivotally connecting the carriage to said base, the axis of said means extending horizontally; means on said carriage for rotatably supporting a cylinder; means for rotating a cylinder when mounted on said carriage; and means for imparting a rocking motion to said carriage, said last named means being adjustable to vary the extent of rocking motion of the carriage.

14. In a cylinder coating apparatus, the combination with a base; of a carriage; cylinder trunnion supports mounted on said carriage and adjustable thereon to vary the distance therebetween; a motor mounted on said carriage and adapted to rotate a cylinder supported thereon; means, also mounted on and bodily movable with the carriage, for catching coating material drained ofi from the cylinder; and a horizontally disposed spindle pivotally connecting said carriage to the base, said spindle being located intermediate said trunnion supports of the carriage.

WILLIAM C. HUEBNER. 

